Ellis and Mosher gave Ball the opportunity to respond. And of course, he did.

"When you don't win, and don't even make the playoffs, and don't even stay on the court long enough, that's the best thing you can do – is tweet and make some stuff," Ball said. "Ain't nobody else doing that, because they're working on their games in the gym. These guys ain't played a game, [are] always hurt, and [are] at the bottom of the totem pole. So guess what? Get your [rear ends] off the goddamn Tweeter, and get in the gym."

Ball also took aim at Jerry Colangelo, the veteran basketball executive who's an adviser to the Sixers and father of the team's president of basketball operations, Bryan Colangelo.

In early June, Jerry Colangelo told 94.1 WIP that Lonzo Ball's start to life in the NBA could be "challenging, with the people around him, without being specific."

Colangelo also offered plenty of praise for Lonzo, calling him "a very talented young man" and "a terrific prospect."

He concluded, "I don't think teams should bypass the player because they have those concerns" about LaVar's presence.

LaVar was evidently affected more by the criticism than the praise.

(Which might also come as a surprise. Or maybe not.)

"You know how you say I'm involved? The other guy, Colangelo, the father – he's the one messing it up," LaVar said. "He's worried about everything on the outside, instead of getting the players. He's worried about the parents and all that, and the people that are around. He needs to worry about what type of players you get for your system."

Ball was asked if that sentiment stemmed from any conversation he'd had with Colangelo.

"No," Ball answered. "I just heard him say one thing which I don't like. He says, 'I don't like the people around Lonzo.' That's the one where I'm just like, okay, what have you got? All you did [was] for the USA team, and now you're son is running a business there [in Philadelphia], and you're a so-called consultant. You're a helicopter parent, over there trying to tell your son what to do."

It's the height of… well… something for Ball to take aim at Colangelo with the same barb that's been tossed his way by who knows how many critics nationwide. Even Lonzo had a few things to say about it in a Gatorade ad produced for Father's Day.

But no matter your generation, the old adage remains true: It takes one to know one.